THE Prime Minister appeared to threaten the Scottish Government's power over NHS Scotland during PMQs this afternoon.
Boris Johnson said the SNP would "foreit all right to manage" Scotland's health service if further waiting time targets are missed.
The Tory leader had been asked about NHS performance in Scotland by Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP John Lamont.
The Scottish Tory said: "In Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP are letting down our wonderful NHS staff and the patients they look after. Waiting time targets have been missed, capital investment has been slashed and there’s a £1 billion maintenance backlog. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that rather than obsessing about independence referendums Nicola Sturgeon should end her neglect of Scotland’s NHS?"
The Prime Minister responded: "Mr Speaker I congratulate my honourable friend on everything that he does for his constituency in Berwickshire and he is absolutely right. That is why – as I said earlier – that is why they rant, to use his own word, so incessantly about independence. Because they wish to distract – they wish to dead cat as the saying goes – from the lamentable failures of the SNP Government in Scotland and he’s entirely right. If this goes on I think the SNP will forfeit all right to manage the NHS in Scotland."
READ MORE: Scottish Secretary accused of not taking role 'seriously'
Health is a devolved matter, which means Scotland has control over its own health service.
Devolution reforms are due to be published before the end of the year, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack recently revealed.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel